Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Exploding Melons In China Raise New Concerns About Food Safety

About 120 acres of crops have been affected in the eastern city of Danyang, with melons exploding in the fields. This bizarre phenomenon has been blamed on unchecked use of the growth hormone forchlorfenuron.

"'On May 7, I came out and counted 80 (exploded watermelons), but by the afternoon it was 100,' farmer Liu Mingsuo told state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) in a report that aired Tuesday.

"He said he had sprayed them with the chemical just a day before.

"'Two days later I didn't bother to count anymore,' added Liu, who admitted using forchlorfenuron and saw three hectares of watermelons -- more than two-thirds of his crop -- laid to waste."

The state-controlled media is trying to blame heavy rainfall followed by dry conditions. While this has in the past led to burst melons, it didn't near approach the level of this rash of melon bombs.